I’m talking about the Portland, Oregon annual Toy Run this Saturday (December 4th) which benefits children at OHSU’s Dornbecker Children’s Hospital.

The major organizer and motorcycle advocacy group for the event is ABATE and this year will mark 31 years. In previous year’s turnout there have been thousands of riders, but more important are the toys collected for sick kids. The Toy Run brings together Harleys, Hondas, clubbers, and even the occasional Vespa scooter. The ABATE members hold a motorcycle raffle to help raise money for the hospital and shortly after noon the police will escort riders followed by a Tri-Met bus full of toys to the Shriners Hospital.

The major organizer and motorcycle advocacy group for the event is ABATE and this year marks 30 years.

The weather was dry, but it was cold. In fact, the temp gauge registered a new low (28 degrees) on the motorcycle. As I left the neighborhood I noticed leaving tire tracks on the frost covered asphalt. I met up with the posse for breakfast and the main roads had already received a quick spray of glycol-based de-icers on the overpasses and bridges. By the time we finished breakfast and drove toward the Tri-Met parking lot the frost had mostly evaporated.

This year’s turnout was nearly as large as last which brought out more than 6,000 riders. But, more importantly it’s a lot of toys collected for sick kids. The Toy Run brings together Harleys, Hondas, clubbers, and even the occasional Vespa. The ABATE members held a motorcycle raffle to help raise money for the hospital and shortly after noon the police escorted riders followed a Tri-Met bus full of toys to the Shriners Hospital.

Since opening its first Oregon facility in 1976, Intel has grown the location to include multiple fabs and seven main campuses, making it Intel’s largest and most complex site in the world.

In addition, Intel Oregon is the largest private employer in the state. Employees are very active in everything from singing groups to flying clubs and many employees actively participate in charity events to support the community where they live and work.

This brings me to the Intel Motorcycle Club (iMC) who has scheduled a charity ride (Elsie Mae Memorial Ride) event that will benefit the Providence Brain Institute (PBI). They have recently opened up the ride to all riders regardless of whether you work at Intel. The ride happens on Saturday, September 26th and all motorcycle types are welcome. The list of raffle prizes is impressive and the number of expected motorcycle enthusiasts who are attending is significant.

If interested you can find more information on the iMC web site. Briefly, registration is at Black Rock Coffee (185th & Baseline Road) between 8:00-10:00AM. The $10 fee per bike includes 1 raffle ticket, free coffee and potential to win prizes. The mystery ride will end at MotoCorsa on NW Wilson, NW 22nd Avenue around 4:30PM. Food and music will be provided.

Those of you not attending Street Vibrations/Reno during this timeframe may want to consider participating and supporting a worthy cause as 100% of the proceeds go to the PBI brain center.